Sheikh Ahmed: The region’s airports are investing in the latest technology and concepts to delight customers and stay ahead of the competition
Passenger experience and digitisation among topics to be debated 
CAPA ties-up with Reed Exhibitions as Event Partner for GALF
Event to explore strategic challenges facing airports
Held at DICEC on May 7

Dubai, April 18, 2018: An impressive line-up of influential leaders and experts from the world of aviation will address this year’s Global Airport Leaders’ Forum (GALF) on the opening day of the 18th edition of  Airport Show at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) on May 7 under the patronage and presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group. 

To ensure that the GALF continues to remain a undisputed knowledge-sharing platform for the aviation industry  and airports in particular, Airport Show organisers, Reed Exhibitions Middle East, has tied up with  CAPA-Centre for Aviation toorganise GALF running alongside the world’s largest airport industry exhibition to debate the global strategic challenges and opportunities facing airport operators, regulators and industry suppliers. 

Established in 1990, CAPA provides independent market intelligence, research and data solutions that support strategic decision-making at hundreds of the leading companies in global aviation. 

This year’s Global Airport Leaders’ Forum will explore how airports can adapt their business models, implement smart innovations and embrace collaborative partnerships with airlines to adapt and flourish in the digital age. 

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, remarked: “Whether it is the latest scanning technologies, passenger experiences or robot baggage handlers, the region’s airports are investing in the latest technology and concepts to delight customers and stay ahead of the competition. This exciting time in the industry will be reflected at Airport Show 2018.'

Key issues in debate at this year’s event includes smart airports, IT and automation, airport retailing, passenger experience enhancement, airline-airport partnership, airport privatisation, infrastructure financing, airport collaborative decision making (A-CDM), robotics in airports, aerotropolis and air traffic control (ATC).

Speakers include Dubai Airports CEO, Paul Griffiths, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) Director General and CEO of dans, Mohammed Abdullah Ahli, CAPA-Centre for Aviation Executive Chairman, Peter Harbison, Carlson Wagonlit Travel’s Chief Data Scientist, Eric Tyree, Bahrain Airport Company CEO, Mohammed Al BinFalah, Fraport AG Senior Executive Vice President, Karl-Heinz Dietrich, Oman Airports Management Company CEO, Sheikh Aimen bin Ahmed Al Hosni, Pittsburgh International Airport CEO, Christina Cassotis,  and  Redwater Consulting Group Managing Director, Anthony Cicuttini.

The other speakers include Airport International Group CEO, Kjeld Binger, Athens International Airport CEO, Yiannis Paraschis, GMR Group CEO, PS Nair,  Hamburg Airport’s  Head of Centre Management, Lutz Deubel, PA Consulting Partner, David Huttner, emaratech Director General, Thani Al Zaffin, Finavia Corporation Senior Advisor, Kari Savolainen, Carlyle Airport Group’s President and CEO, Amit Rikhy, PrivateAir Saudi Arabia General Manager, Dr Fethi Chebil and Vinci Airports’ Chief Commercial Officer, Pierre-Hugues Schmit.

Also addressing the Forum will be Aerotropolis Business Concepts’ President and CEO, Dr. John Kasarda, City of Vantaa Project Director, Arja Lukin, Final Approach Managing Director, Alexander Kirby, AIREA and Tehran IKIA Airport City Managing Director and Chief Development Officer, Pieter van der Horst, Bayanat Airports Engineering & Supplies CEO, George Hannouche, and HungaroControl’s Head of Business Development, Attila Simon.

Airport Show will cover 15,000 square meters of space across three spacious halls at the iconic Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC), with over 350 exhibitors from 90 countries. Up to 7,500 attendees are expected. In addition to GALF, this year’s three other co-located conferences include Air Traffic Control (ATC) Forum, Airport Security Middle East and Women in Aviation (WIA) General Assembly, with over 700 delegates expected to attend these events.